Murray-Cornell intersection improvements
planning underway

Washington County’s Department of Land Use and Transportation
will soon begin the design and construction of roadway improvements
on NW Murray Boulevard between Cornell Road and Highway 26 in Cedar Mill.
The County will host a kick-off open house meeting on Thursday November 9,
2006 from 5 to 8 pm at the Christ United Methodist Church, 12755 NW Dogwood
St., to share information about the design process and specific planned improvements.
The open house is an opportunity for neighbors and local business
owners to learn more about the project and provide feedback. County staff
and engineering consultants will be available to answer questions. There
will be two short presentations at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The project will
improve capacity and safety along Murray between Highway 26 and Cornell
Road, and at the Murray/Cornell intersection. Improvements include:
• An additional travel lane in each direction on Murray, making it a
four-lane roadway
• A center turn lane or median islands on Murray
• Additional turn lanes at the Murray/Cornell intersection
• Sidewalks, bicycle and transit facilities
• Curbs and gutters, landscaping and street lighting

Community members are
invited to participate during project development. A Project Advisory Committee
(PAC) that includes representation from neighborhood groups, property owners,
the business community, other citizens, and affected public agencies will
meet regularly to advise the project team. Those interested in participating
in the PAC, or just receiving information, may leave contact information
at the Open House.

Murray Boulevard is a major arterial connection
between Cedar Mill and Highway 26. The roadway currently includes
two travel lanes and limited turn lanes, and experiences congestion
during peak travel times. Roadway widening and improvements will accommodate
traffic increases in the area, which are expected to grow from the current
20,000 vehicles per day to 30,000 vehicles per day by 2030. The Murray Boulevard
project will be funded by local property taxes as part of Washington
County’s
Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP). The Board of County
Commissioners selected the Murray Boulevard project following recommendations
from local officials and the public.

If you have any questions please call:
Alexander Sander, Project Manager, Washington County Capital Project
Management Division, at (503) 846-7800 or e-mail alex_sander@co.washington.or.us